RRC Archives

Here's a good one (thanks Lurkist!). Frank Becker's 1974 guide. It's about as big as the palm of my hand. It's hard to read but it's the best I could do with my scanner since the text is so light.
http://www.redriverclimbing.com/museum/ ... mage0.html

the Becker guide lists Frenchburg Overhangs and Arachnid as the hardest routes at 5.8.

Diamond in the Crack is said to possibly go free at "at least 5.6"

That's so awesome. It's the Becker guide that some scum stole from my historical display at Gladie a few years back. Now my old Chuinard harness and old friend are in the new visitor center displayed as "rescue gear"... whatever!

Ray, you seem to be the man behind the curtain. I've got all of the Urban Climber scanned and on my computer. Did you want to post it? If so whats the best way to get it to you. I can also scan some of the R&I little hot flashes about muir and recent sends, if you want them.

peace,
tuteur

Yea dude, you can send them to me. I'd love to post them to the museum.

Thanks,
Ray

Before you post all that stuff, what's the length of time for an article to go from copyrighted to historical? No point getting in trouble over this.

I think what's really interesting about the Becker guide is the preface. If you read it, he says that the purpose of writing the guide is to preserve the history of what routes the red _used_ to have.

Because at the time of his writing, the gov was still planning on damming the Red and turning the whole area into a lake like Lake Cumberland. So he's documenting the routes that existed at the time, because as far as he knew, they might not exist at all very long, or you might have to do an approach to them in a boat.

That, and I imagine he was hoping increased popularity of the Red might prevent the damming in the first place. I guess he was right.

Makes you think - would increased popularity of some "threatened" climbing areas prevent them from closing? (I'm speaking mainly of places like Springfield Gorge, Clifton Gorge, etc. in Ohio.) Are extremely popular areas less likely to close than areas that aren't frequented as often, because of the recognition of the popularity, and increased resistance from the users?

Overcramped hehe

dhoyne wrote:Before you post all that stuff, what's the length of time for an article to go from copyrighted to historical? No point getting in trouble over this.

the way copyright laws have been changing, never.

How come the Urban Climber article isn't posted?

I don't think I ever got it. If I did I spaced it.